Convertible table and valise



Feb. 11, 1930. c, cc s CONVERTIBLE TABLE AND VALISE Filed April 5. 19282 Sheets-Sheet 1 finzy 6'. M elosk ay Patented Feb. 11 1930 UNITEDSTATES HENRY C. MCCLOSKEY, OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS CONVERTIBLE TABLE ANDVALISE Application filed. April 3, 1928.

The invention provides an article particularly adapted for picnickersand tourists since it may be readily adjusted for use as a table andeasily and quickly reduced to a compact form for convenience of handlingand storage and receiving sundry articles adapted to be packed into avalise or'analogous container.

The invent-ion relates to an article of the nature aforesaid which ineither adjustment presents storage compartments, or receptacles, inwhich tableware, food, dishes and the like may be placed and which arereadily accessible at all times, whether the device is set up for use asa table or reduced to the form of a valise.

The invention provides a convertible article of the character statedwhich is light, durable and capable of being manipulated with ease 0 anddispatch when converting it from one use to another, and which isportable and compact to occupy a small space for carrying andtransporting.

lVhile the drawings illustrate a preferred 5 embodiment of theinvention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meetspecific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and such otherchanges in the minor details of construction may be resorted to withinthe scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spiritthereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereofreference is to be had to the following description and the drawingshereto attached, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the device reduced to the form ofa valise.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the device adjusted for use as atable.

Figure 3 is a view of the device in the form of a table and inverted,the legs being in section, parts broken away and a section of the topbeing partly drawn out.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 3, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Serial No. 267,106.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 3, looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows, the legs being in full.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and designated in the several views of the drawings by likereference characters.

The device. comprises similar sections or parts which are hingedlyconnected and provided with folding legs. Each of the sections includesa frame, a top, a storage compartment, aleg receiving compartment, andclosures for the top and bottom of the Compartments, whereby access tothe storage compartment may be readily had when the device is adjustedfor use as a table or valise, and is set upon its legs, or inverted andresting upon its top, as indicated in Figure 3 of the drawlngs.

Each of the frames includes an outer longitudinal rail 1, an innerlongitudinal rail 2, and end rails 3. An intermediate longitudinal rail4 is spaced a short distance from the outer rail 1 and is connected atits ends to the rails 3. The compartment or space 5 thus formed betweenthe longitudinal rails 1 and 4 receives the legs 6 which are adapted tofoldv therein. The legs 6 are hinged to the top, as indicated at 7, andare held extended by flat springs 8 set into recesses formed in thesides of the rails 4 and made fast at one end to the said rails and freeat the opposite end to engage a side of the legs and hold them whenswung outward into operative position. The legs at each side fold oneupon the other, as indicated in Figure 6. Fillers 9 are disposed betweenthe ends of the rails 2 and 4 against the end rails 3 and are securedthereto. Hinges 1O connect these fillers and the sections comprising thedevice.

The space enclosed by the rails 2 and 4 and the fillers 9 constitutes acompartment 11 in which tableware, food, and sundry articles are adaptedto be stored. This storage com? part-ment is open at the top and bottomand is normally closed by covers which are movable to admit of readyaccess to the compartment from either the top or the bottom as required.The upper closure forms part of the table top and the outer sides of thevalise. This 109 closure includes a medial section 12 and end sections13. The end sections 13 are fixed. The medial section 12 is slidable inand out. The meeting edges of the sections are halved as indicated mostclearly in Figures 4 and 6 of the drawings. The top closure extends overboth compartments 5 and 11. A longitudinal strip 14 secured to thebottom side of the section 12 forms a stop to limit its slidingmovements in both directions. The ends of the stop strip 14projectrbeyond the sides of the section 12 and underlap the end sections13 and rest upon transverse strips15 extending between the rails 2 and 4and spaced from the end sections 13a distance to snugly accommodate theends of the stop 14:. The strips 15 provide restswhich assistmateriallyin retaining the sliding top sections 12 in position during theirsliding movements. The bottom closure 16 is hinged to :the rail 2 asindicated at 17, and is retained in closed position by suitablefastening means 18. I

lVhen the device is folded into compact form it presents the appearanceof a valise as shown in Figure-1 of the drawings. It is provided withhandles 19 and fastenings 20. Access is readily had to either one of thestorage compartments 11 by sliding the section 12 outwardly as will bereadily appreciated.

lVhen the device is set up for use as a table, the complemental sectionsare opened out fiat and the legs 6 are extended. Access to the storagecompartments 11 is had by sliding the sections 12 laterally, asindicated in Figure 3,01 by opening the closures 16. .Itmakesnodifi'erence Whether thetable isset upon its legs, asshowninFigure-2, orinverted and placed uponits top,'as illustrated in Figure3, access may bereadily had to either one ofthe storage compartments.

Having thus described the invention, 1 claim:

A convertible table and valise comprising sections, each sectionincluding an inner, an outer, and :an intermediate longitudinal rail andend connecting rails, fillers between the ends of the innerandintermediate longitudinal rails hinges connecting the fillers, legsfoldable inthe spaces formed between the outer and intermediatelongitudinal rails, flat springs for holding the legs extended appliedto one of the longitudinal rails, ahinged bottomfor each of thesections, atop for each section comprising fixed end members and anintermediate sliding member, transverse strips between the fixed endmembers, anda longitudinal strip carried by the sliding member andcoacting with the fixed end members and the transverse strips to retainthe sliding member in; place and limit its movements.

In testimony whereof I, afiix my signature.

HENRY G. MGGLOSKEY. [L.=S.]

